2023 was warmest year on record in Vernon

Jan 3, 2024 | 12:00 PM

Vernon had a record year in terms of average temperature in 2023.

“In the annual year of 2023, the mean temperature in Vernon was 10.1 degrees. The normal [mean] temperature is 7.7°, so about a 2.4 degree positive anomaly from a temperature point of view, and that’s the warmest [on record],” Brian Proctor, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, told Vernon Matters.

“Our records for temperature in Vernon go back to 1902, and the previous warmest year was back in 2015 at 9.9°.”

Proctor said Kamloops also had a record year in terms of temperature and dryness, while Kelowna had its third warmest and third driest year on record in 2023.

The meteorologist said the precipitation data for Vernon was still being analyzed, but suspected 2023 was in the top three driest years.

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

Dec 13, 2025

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

Dec 13, 2025

Salaries

Vernon Council to discuss lesser pay increases

Dec 12, 2025

Proctor said temperatures have been trending upwards over the past several years, but two variables came together to push the average temperatures up to new records last year.

“One was the evolving El Nino, which really magnified the warming as we moved from the summer into the fall, and the second thing was we had a blocking ridge of high pressure along the atmosphere for much of this year,” Proctor explained.

“So what that really did was it hindered the west-to-east movement of systems, and really allowed a lot of warm air that was associated with the evolving El Nino to really flood up overtop of the province from the southwest.”

Proctor had previously indicated that Vernon had seen a very dry and moderate winter, but when speaking with Vernon Matters Wednesday, January 3, he indicated that could be changing soon with the high pressure ridge retreating somewhat, though the El Nino will still be in play.

“We’re looking at gradual decreases of temperatures as we move through this work week and into the weekend, and an increasing chance of seeing some precipitation,” the meteorologist said.

“There’s a chance of flurries and rain showers out there today [Wednesday], again probably tonight and into tomorrow, but we do see something a bit more organized coming in Friday night into Saturday and probably bringing some wet snow. It looks like amounts will sort of be in the order of about five centimetres at this point, so not tremendous amounts of snow but we definitely are going to see some of the white stuff, so a bit of a change from what we’ve seen over the last six weeks.”

The snow will mainly be concentrated in the upper elevations, and Proctor advised people be cautious when travelling, especially on the mountain passes like the Okanagan Connector and the Coquihalla.

Proctor said the drop in temperature would also result in the fog lifting from the valley.

Looking ahead through the rest of the winter, Proctor said the snow would not likely be enough to offset the moisture deficit in the region, adding El Nino would remain ‘the dominant signal” and maintain the warmer, drier conditions, particularly in B.C.’s southwestern and Interior regions.

by Liam Verster

View Comments